Production recorder



W. 1 mm.

M. J. HOFFMAN PRODUCTION RECORDER Filed Jan. 13, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 flu 6711 07 \Q 7w z n 0 w w M R UR. m 0 PM, W H. 7 L i l W- mm, mm) o QR .l v u o .L 0% T u QN u N N @m @N Qfi RQ NQQ k mq m 3 g g S a Q 0 N M w M. J. HOFFMAN PRODUCTION RECORDER Filed Jan. 13. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 M. J. HOFFMAN PRODUCTION RECORDER 4 shew-sheet 4 Filed Jan. 13 L923 di h) p which may be printed the words.Job No.

thereof, is a column or" numbers arran lit Quantity, l rice, Operation or Opf and the margin at the left hand side may contain a column of numbers arranged consecutively from to to bottom to designate the lines upon which the information is to rinted. Upon the reverse 'side of the pro uction slip, and. at the left hand sidg consecutively, from top to bottom, and "s- 'posedin the same relative locations on the slip as are the numbers on the frontside thereof. The purpose of this is to enable the person havingchargeof the production recorder, to properly locate theproduction slip in the machine when printing upon the unit cormsponding with the lot number of said articles, sets the type thereof to correspend with the wormans operation numher, and the number of articles in the lot,

and prints upon theslip a record of the work. The machine prints the identifying number of'thc job or Job No. the quantity, or number of articles in the job, the price or wages to be received by the workman for his work upon each article or upon a: lot of articles, and also the identif ing number. which designates the nature his operation. At the same time, the machine 1 prints'a duplicate of this information upon theoflice or permanent record, whichis contained in the machine.

, ;Referring to the, drawings, the, reference character 11 designates a case or cabinet for containing the mechanism, said case comprising a box like lower portion 12..and a cover 13 hinged thereto as at 14, and locked thereto bya suitable, lock. The box like portion 12 has a table or platform 15 at its 1 front and upon which are placed the dials or indicating slips, as will be hereinafter set forth. The cabinet or case may be of elongated, rectangular shape so as to contain a .large number of printing units, all duplicates of each othertexcept the information contained on the type) and as saidunits are substantially) duplicates ofeach other, a detaileddescri tion of one will'suflice so far has est-his. speci cation is concerned. Each unit is used to make records of work done one. separatelot of articles by the'several workmen working on said lot. The number of units employed may vary and a multiplicity ofthem maybe placed in onecase or cabinet to suit the requirements of any establishment. As a ,preference, the machine may be constructed of several sizes, containingcertain specified numbers of units.

lilitwb printing unit comprises a type carrier 13 (see Figs. 2, 4:, 5, 6) containing a number of type rings 18, 19, 20 and type wheels 21, and an associated impression making device 22 for making the impression and printing the information on the workmans production slip A and on the permanent or oiiice slip. The type carrier is removably secured in the case whereby it may be removed therefrom and another one substituted for it, and whereby it may be taken to a type case and the type set up in the type carrier to rint the desired information. The type ring 18 contains removable type 17,17 thatprint the operation number and the price, thetype ring 20 contains type that print thewhole number of articles 1n the lot; the type ring 19 contains the type that print any fractlons or decimal parts of Whole numbers, and refer to the number of articles in the lot, and the type wheels 21 contains type that print the lot number which identifies a lot of articles.

Each type carrier 16 comprises an annular type supporting body or frame 23 having on one side, slide blocks 24 grooved vertically along their side edges to leave ribs 25, which slide in vertical grooves behind ribs 26 that are formed on a stationar upright supporting frame member 27 whic 1 they are arranged circumferentially about the type rings,with their printin faces arranged in a vertical plane Whic extends transversely of 3 the cabinet. In the form illustrated, the annular type carrying body 23 is formed with an annularflange 29 on which is rotatively mounted the type ring 20, and said ring 20 has a disk like portion 30 which is placed a ainst the flat face of the type carrying b y 23 and an annular flange 20 which surrounds the flange 29 of" said body 23.. The type ring vl9 is substantially of the same construction as the type ring20, and is rotatively mounted thereon in the same manner as the type ring 20 is mounted u on the body 23. he type ring 18 preferab y contains an annular type receiving-groove 18 and is rotatively mountlit tilt.

till

t inner tying data for the separate operations which are to be performed upon the articles. The type 17, li' may be .fllastened. in place by a ringl'i and screws 1'7". llhetype for the rings 19, 20 may be made directly upon the outer side faces of the flange portions 19 2O of said typerings inasmuch as theydo not vary ordo notrequirechanging, as frequently as do the typewhich printsthe operation numbers and the prices or amounts. The type rings 19, 20 may con tain type which print-the quantities and fractions of numbers of articles, upon which the workmen perform labor. it will he understood that the several type rings may be separately turned upon their axes to bring any of the typev characters thereof into a straight, vertical 1ine,which isthe printing position of said type characters. The type rings are held in place on the type carrier by any suitable means, here shown as c0m-- prising arms 27 supported by the frame 27 and overhanging the outermost type ring.

In theopen portion of the annular type carrying body 23 are the typewheels 21, which are mounted upon a vertically extending pin orshaft 33 which is mounted in the flange 2'9. Said type wheels contain type characters 34: in the form of numerals running from O to 9 and one "of the'type wheels may containothercharacters, as for instance ten of the letters'of the alphabet.

Said type wheels are suitably spaced apart and spaced from the flange 29 by suitable washers 35 andare held =-.gainst*rotation on theshaft; as for, instance by a locking pin 36, which is removably secured in the type carrying body 23 and extends through spaces between the type characters of the type wheels. It will be understood that the type wheels 21 may be adjusted toprint any whole number containing as many figures as there are" type wheels, bearing'numbers, and in addition thereto one type wheel may print a charactersuch as a letter of the alphabet. lit will also be understood that when the several type rings and type wheels" are set so as to present a set of type charactors in vertical alignment, as shown in'lFig.

d, those type characters which extend in vertical alignment with each other from the lowermost-type wheel and upward, are in printing position and will print the data contained there-on. on the workmans production'slip and on the office or record slip whenever the associated impression device is properly operated. The typecarrier may be lifted out of its supporting frame in case it becomes necessa thereof, or to ad ust the type wheels to change the lot number to correspond with the identifying number of a new lot of an ticles. Type setting means are provided for setting the type characters in printing position, which is done by rotating the severalto reset any of the type" type rings so as to bring the desired characters thereon into printing position and said means "will now be described. Un the peripheries of the type rings 18, 19, 20 are rack teeth 18*, 18, 19, at) which mesh respectively with the teeth of rack bars 37, 37, 38, 39 which are slidably mounted on the base of the machine and have lrnobs or other rejections d0, 40 that extend up througli slots formed in the table 15 in convenient position to be grasped. in order to narrow up the width of the table 15, the type ring 18, (which contains the greatest number of type characters,) is provided with two sets of gear teeth, one set 18* extending through. an arc of 180 degrees and the other set 18 extending through'an arc of 180 degrees commencing where the first set left oil, but at one side thereof, asis clearly seen in Fig. 1. ln the position of the type ring 18 shown, the first tooth of the rack bar 37 meshesv with the first tooth oi the teeth 18, of said type ring, and the first tooth of the teeth 18 is arranged to come into mesh with the first tooth of the teeth of the rack bar 3'? when the rack bar 37 has moved said type ring through an arc of 180 degrees from the zero point. When the teeth 18* come into mesh with the rack bar 37 the latter bar is moved forward by the operator, thereby turning the type ring 18. The last tooth 18 v thereof has at that time run oil the rack bar 37. lnthis way the two rack bars which move the type ring of the greatest diameter through 360 degrees, move only through one-half the distance which would be required for a single rack bar which was long enough to engage all of the teeth on said type ring. The knob 40* for the bar 37 is set back of the knob 40 for the. bar 37 (see Figs. 2 and 3) and both knobs project up through one and thesame slotin the table 15.

- The impression making device 22 may comprise rubber covered impression bar 4-1 which is arranged to be forcibly brought into contact with a production slip which is interposed between the type and impression bar. haid impression bar is secured upon an arm ll pivotally supported upon the trainework of the machine. A hand lever 42 pivoted to the rear end of the machine, is employedior actuating the impression making device, and in the form of the invention illustrated, said handlever is arranged to engage a cam like element d3 on the arm 41 whenever it is moved down, and alsowhenever it is moved upward to thereby swing the arm l1 upon its fulcrum and press the impression bar All against the interposed production slip. Said cam like element til has inclined faces d3, d3 with which the hand leVcrtQ engages to actuate the impression making device, whereby an impression lever is moved down, and a duplicate impression is made upon the ofice or permanent slip whenthe handle is moved upward. The workmans production slip is removed however, before lifting up on the handle. The ,front end of. the handle is guided to move vertically in a vertical slot 44, and said slot has ofl" set portions 44*, 44 into which the hand lever may be moved at the top and bottom :limits of its strokes. This arrangement merely serves to hold the hand lever in position at the top and bottom limits of its strokes. The vertical portion guides the handle and holds it in effective engagement with a cam 43.

At aplace adjacent each type carrier and directly in front of the faces of the type thereof,=a slot45 is formed in the cover 13 through. which the workmans production slip A, is inserted. Said slot 45 is located between the printing faces of the type and the adjacent edge of the impression bar 41 and ledges 45 are provided which support the slip while it is being printed upon. Immediately in front of thetype is the type ribbon 46 which, as shown, is wound upon two spools or rollers 47, 48 mounted upon suitable standardsior posts 49 that aresupported by the base or framework of the machine. Means are. provided for advancing said type ribbon to present fresh places to the type, and the ribbon winding means may conveniently comprise a ratchet wheel 50 (see Fig. 8) secured upon the spool 47 ,and a pawl 51 pivotally mounted on a sliding pawl'actuating member 52 which is slidably mounted in a guide bracket 53 and has a cam face 54 that is engaged by the hand lever 42 after it has passed the cam 43 and before it reaches the lower limit of its down stroke. The hand lever engages said cam face 54 and shifts said pawl actuating member 52 in a direction toengage the pawl 51 with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 50, thereby moving said ratchet wheel and the spool 47 one step at a time and advancing the ribbon. A spring 53 connected with the actuating member 52and' with. some stationary element, as'for instance the guide bracket 53 serves to retract the member 52 and pawl 51 after it is released by the hand lever 42.

Below and at one side of the slot 45, is an oflice or permanent record support 55, in whichis supported an office or permanent record strip or card 56 upon which is printed duplicates of the information printed upon the workmans production slip, either at the same time that it is printed upon said slip or directly afterwards. Said record support 55 is shown in the form of a bar having a slot in its upper edge in which the record card 56 is inserted. Means are provided for advancing said record strip or card 56 one step at a time, after a record has been made thereon, so as to present new spaces upon which to print succeeding records. The simple means for advancing the permanent record card or strip may comprise a toothed rack 57 (see Figs. 3 to 7) upon the lower side of the record support 55, and a pawl 58 engaging therewith, which is operated by the hand lever 42 each time that the same is fully depressed. The pawl 58 is mounted upon alever 59 which is pivotally supported upon a'bracket or arm 60 and has a pin 61 lying in the path of movement of the hand lever 42. The pawl 58 is spring pressed towards the rack teeth 57 by a spring 62, and a spring 63 is provided for returning the lever 59 to inoperative position after it has been moved by the hand lever 42. A pin or other stop 64 carried by the bracket or arm 60 holds the lever 59 in inactive position.

Associated with each set of actuating bars 37, 37 is a dial or indicating strip 67, (see Fig. 10) which may be in the form of a card that is removably secured upon the table, as for instance by pins 68 on said table that are arranged to project through perforations 69 in the dial or indicating strip. Each strip bears two columns ofnumbers, the numbers of each column being arranged consecutively, and one column containing onehalf of the numbers and the other column containing the other half thereof, and these dials or indicating strips are used to aid the attendant in operating the rack bars 37, 37 in setting the type ring 18 of any unit. Each rack bar is provided with a pointer 0r arrow which indicates upon the dial, the type which are in printing position. For the purpose of indicating which operations upon any lot of articles have been performed, I have provided a cancelling device which is connected with the actuating bars that operate the type ring, 18, and said cancelling device may comprise punch points 7 0 formed upon the under side of levers 71 one of which is pi-votally mounted upon each actuating bar 37,37. Below the punch is a slot 72 into which said punch point may be moved in punching a hole through the dial or indicating strip 67. The strip 67 may be ruled as shown, and the attendant may write in the workman's number, when therecord is made on his card. A dial or indicator 72 is provided adjacent the knobs of the bars 38, 39, and indicates the places, (corresponding to the information on the quantity type rings) where the pointers of the bars 38, 39 are stopped to bring the desired type characters into printing position.

i w selected type characters'thereoi into printing llh In use, the type ring of each printing unit which holds the type that print the"operation numbers and the prices'or values, is set up with type to rint the operation number and price paid or each workmans operation on one lot of, articles. These prices vary in accordance with the character of the work performed; The number wheels of each type carrier are set to correspond with the job number of a lotof articles and locked inplace against rotation. The

type ring having t pe' set to correspond with a p the operation nu-In ers and prices to be paid workmen for operations corresponding with said operation numbers, is then placed on a type carrier whose lot number wheels are set to correspond with the lot number of a given lot of articles and the type carrier is then placed in its supporting frame with all of the type rings placed at a zero or neutral place; The operation numbers are arranged numerically about the type ring hill a type correspondin p 7 her and quantity o articles in sand lot. This w by placing the first unprinted line thereof the numbers thereon, in reg e arrow or pointer on the case 1 t5 and correspond with the numbers on the dial or indicating strip 67 so that when the actuati'n'g bar for said ring is drawn out until the ointer thereon stands at the selected number on the dial, the corresponding type characters on the type ring will be in printlug position. The characters onthequantity type ringsare also arranged consecutively about their rings and correspond inposition with corresponding characters on the table 15, whereby said type wheels may be manipulated by the actuating bars to bring the position. a

ln operation,'when a workman has completed his work upon a given lot of articles, the attendant manipulates the actuatingbars of theunit. having the lot number corre spending with the lot number on which he has worked, to set into printing positiomthe to his operation numbrings the type showing the price to be paid for his work. nto printing positionfsince said type is on the same ring and in line with the operation number type.

The attendant then, msertsthe workmans production card through the slit, associated with said printing unit and locates the card as shown b ister'with th adjacent the slot. The attendant then presses down on presses it into engagement with the type ribbon which is interposedbetween'the type and card and makes an impression or record on the card of the type characters that are in printing position. As the hand lever 42 approaches the bottom of 'its stroke, after the impression bar has been operated, it en gages the ofice record support actuating r the hand lever 12, whichlmoves .the impression bar against the card and .mechanism and advances said support and therewith the ofice'reoord, onestep. When the hand lever is at the bottom of its stroke, the workmans card is removed and the hand lever raised. As it passes the cam on the mpression bar arm l1 it again moves the impression bar over, thereby making a duplicateimpression or record of said information upon the cities or record strip.

Each workmans car showsu exactly the lot numbers of the articles he has worked on, the number of articles in each lot, the

price to be paid him for such work and the lot number of his operation.

These items can'be easily checked over to discover IIlllS- "takes,'in case any occur. Inasmuch as, the

case is locked, the mechanism and type thereof cannot be tampered with, and consequentlygreater certainty and accuracy-are obtained in the records. i a

More or less variation of the exact details of construction is possible without departmg from the spirit of this invention; T desire, therefore, not to limit myself to the exact form of the constructionshown and described, but intend, in the following claims, to point out all of the invention disclosed herein. 7

I claim as new and desire to smure by Letters Patent:

1. A production recorder, com rising, a

supporting base, and a plurality o individv ual rinting units removably supported there each unit comprising a type carrier, and a multiplicity of type carried thereby, and each unit being removable as 'ahole, type setting mechanism and an importing base, and a plurality of individual printing units removably supported thereby, each unit comprising a typecarrier rotatable. type ringsrotatively mounted thereon, and type characters onsaid rings, and each unit being'removable as a whole, setting mechanism cooperating with said t e rings, whereby. the type thereon may e set in printing position, and an impression making element'cooperatmg with the set type characters to prmt a record.

'4. A production recorder, comprising a su porting base, and a plurality cl individhal printing units removably suppor thereby, each unit comprising a removable hit hill

ltltl Wit lid

llh

and replaceable type carrier, rotatable type rings rotatively mounted thereon, and type characters on said rings, andeach unit be- -tion,,and an impression making element cooperating with the set type characters to print a record.

5. A production recorder, comprising a supporting base, and. a plurality of individual printing units supported thereby, each unit comprising a type carrier, and a multiplicity 0 type carried thereby, type setting mechanism and a double acting impressicnmaking element, cooperating with theset type to print a record and a duplicate thereof.

6. A production recorder, com rising a supporting base, and a pluralityo individual printing units supported thereby, each unit comprising a type carrier, having a type ring rotatively carried thereby and provided with type characters thereon, and a series of type wheels having type characters thereon, the type characters of said type wheels being arranged to print in the same plane as thetype characters of the type rin setting mec anism'cooperating with sai type rin whereby the type characters thereof may be set to print in line with the type characters of the type wheels, and an impression element cooperating with the set type characters to print a record.

7. A production recorder, com rising a supporting base, and a plurality oi individual printing units supported thereby, each unit comprising a removable. and replaceable type carrier, having a type rin rotatively carried thereby and provide with wheels having type characters thereon, t e type characters of said type wheels being arranged to print in the same plane as the type characters of-the ty rings, setting mechanism cooperating with said type rin s, whereby the .ty e characters thereo mayie set to print in ine with the type characters of the. type wheels, and an impression element cooperating with the set type characters to print a record.

8. A production recorder, comprising a supporting base, and a pluralit ofindividua printing .units supported t ereby, each unit comprising a type carrier, having a type ring rotatively carried thereby and pro-- I vided with type characters, thereon, and a characseries of type Wheels having type s 0 said type wheels being arranged to print in the same plane as the type characters of the type rings, there bein locking means for securing said type w eels against rotation, setting mechanism cooperating with said type rings, whereby the type characters thereof may be set to print in line with the type characters of the type wheels, and an 1mpression element cooperating with the set type characters to print a record.

9. A production recorder, com rising a supporting base, and a plurality o individua printing units removably supported thereby, each unit comprising a ty e carrier, and a toothed type ring rotative carried thereby and provided wlth type cliaracters, and each unit being removable as a whole, a type setting bar having rack teeth meshing with the teeth of said ring, and an impression making element cooperating with the set type characters to print a record.

10. A. production recorder, com rising a supporting base, and a plurality o individual printin units removably, supported thereby, each unit comprising a removable and replaceable type carrier, and a toothed type ring rotatively carried thereby and provided with type characters, and each unit ein removable as a whole, a type setting bar aving rack teeth meshing with' the teeth of said ring, and an impression making element cooperating with the set type characters to print a record.

11. A production recorder, com rising a supporting base, and a plurality o individual rinting units removably supported there y, each unit comprising a type carrier, and a toothed type ring rotatively carried thereby and provided with removable and replaceable t pe characters, and each unit bein removable as a whole, a ty e setting bar aving rack teeth meshing with the teeth of said ring, andan impression making element cooperating with the set type characters to print a record.

12. A production recorder comprising a supporting base, and a pluralit of individual printing units supported t ereby, each unit comprising a type carrier having a toothed type ring rotatively carried thereby and provided wlth type characters thereon, and a series of type wheels having type characters thereon, the type characters of said type wheels being arranged to. print in the same plane asthe type characters of the type rings, toothed setting mechanism coo erating with said toothed t pe rin where y the type characters thereoi may ejset to print in line with the type characters of the type wheels and an impression element cooperating with the set type characters to print a record.

13. A production recorder, comprising a supporting base, and a plurality of individual printing units removably supported thereby, each unit comprising a type carrier and a lurality of type rings rotatively mounted thereon and provided with type characters, and each unit being removable as a whole, settin mechanism cooperating with said rings, w ereby the type characters rennet? thereof may be set in printing position, and an impression making element cooperating wish said set type characters to print a recor e 14:. A production recorder comprising a supporting base, and a plurality of individual printing units supported thereby, each unitcomprising a type carrier and a plurality of type rings and type wheels rotatively mounted thereon and provided with type characters, all arranged to print in one plane, setting mechanism cooperating with said rings, whereby the type characters thereof may be set in printing position, and an impression making element cooperating willih said set type characters to print a recor r 15. In a roduction recorder, a base, a printing unit mounted thereon and comrising a type carrier and type characters thereon for printing on a ticket and on a record strip, a double acting impression making element cooperating with said type characters to successively print on the ticket and on the record strip, and including an actuating handle, an office record support for rotatively mounted thereon, said type ring containing one row of segmental rack teeth extending part way there around, and a second row of segmental rack teeth disposed laterally of the first mentioned rack teeth and extending part way around the ring, beyond the first row of teeth, and two rin actuating rack bars, one adapted to mes with the first mentioned segmental rack and the other adapted to mesh with the second segmental rack.

MORRIS J. norrnan. 

